Snubber attachment for vehicle springs



' 1,628,386 May 10 1927' w. BLACKMORE SNUBBER ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLESPRINGS Fiied dul v, 1926 Patented May 10, 1927.

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WILLIAM BLACKMORE, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T OELI/[ER BELL, 0F SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM C.

IBLACKMORE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Application filed July 7,

The present invention relates to a snubber attachment for vehiclesprings, the snubber attachment of the present invention being of thetype in which pressure is applied to superposed leaves of the spring toresist relative longitudinal movement of the leaves and preventexcessive fiexure of the spring, either downwardly due to the impactonthe supporting wheels or upwardly due to the rebound.

I am aware that the idea of checking the flexure of a leaf spring byapplying clamping pressure to the leaves thereof to increase thefriction between them is not broadly new but in so far as I amaware nosnubbing device of this character has heretofore come into general use.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device of thischaracter capable of withstanding the hard usage to which it issubjected in service and of such simple construction that it may bemanufactured at a low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clip for supportingthe spring clamping element which is formed of resilient metal,permitting it to yield and prevent application of excessive pressure tothe leaves of the spring and also preventing damage to the clip and tothe clamping devices carried thereby.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and otherwise improvethe connections between the vehicle body or axle and the spring clampingmeans and to provide a more durable, more reliable and more effectivespring clamping device.

W it-h the above andother objects in view the invention may be said tocomprise the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawingshereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims,together with such variations and modifications thereof as will beapparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. I

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the snubber attachment applied to asemielliptic leaf spring of the type employed in automobiles of variousmakes;

Fig. 2' is a fragmentary side elevation SNUBBER ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLESPRINGS.

1926. Serial No. 120,956.

showing the spring clamped device in side elevatlon on a larger scalethan in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of F 1g. 3; v

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation showing the invention applied to the rearspring of an automobile of a well-known type;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing a modified form of leaf clampingdevice applied to a front spring of an automobile of a Wellknown type;and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a side member 1 of anautomobile frame, an axle 2, a leaf spring 3, connected at its center tothe axle by means of a clamp 41-, at its front end to the frame member 1by means of a pivot pin 5 and at its rear end to the frame member 1 bymeans of a shackle 6.

' The device of the present invention is adapted to be applied to theleaf spring and to exert'a clamping pressure upon a plurality ofsuperposed leaves thereof to limit the fleXure of the spring. The springengaging clamping members are carried by a substantially U-shaped clip 7which is formed of resilient metal, such as spring steel, and is adaptedto be slipped over the spring 3 between the center and one of the endsthereof. The clip 7 has an upper arm 8 which overlies the top leaf ofthe spring and which is provided with a set screw 9, adapted to bescrewed down into engagement with said top leaf and held with a locknut. The clip 7 is also provided with a lower arm 10 which extendsbeneath the spring and is provided with an upwardly projecting flange 11at its outer end. Within the flange 11, there is mounted, upon the lowerarm 10, a bearing block 12 whichis provided with a concave recess 13 onits upper side. A cam 14: is interposed between the bearing block 12 andthe underside of the spring The cam 1a, which is substantiallytriangular in shape. has a rounded apex 15 which engages in the concaverecess of the bearing block 12, the cam being supported on the bearingblock with its base uppermost beneath the spring 3, the base of the cambeing providedwith a lltl till

suitable wear plate 16 which engages with the lower lea't ot the spring.elutlicient space is provided between the upper edge of the llangre itand the outer end of the arm tr ot' the clip to permit the clip to heslipped into place on the spring and when the clip is positioned on thespring. the set, screw 9 may be turned to clamp the spring: with the d'red pressure against the [lat lace oi. the cam ll. 'lhe llange it has aslot if? extend inn' dmvnwardl v treat the upper end thereof and the cam'l-l: has an intt 1. arm 18 which extends laterally through the slot andis bent at rirjht an jslei-i to extend npwncdlv alone the side of thespring; l. The upper end of the arm 15% slidahli qupporled in an eyebolt 'ltl. attached to the under side o l" the tranie member 1.

l i hen the attachment is put in place on the ii-inn. the set screw 5)is tightened suitieientlv to hold the spring snuejlv again t the tintupper lace oi the chin ll. l chen the ends oi the spring I are 'lleiteddmvnwardlv. due to the impact of the wheels ot the vehicle in passing);over irregularities in the road sur'l ace. the trains number 1 will movedmvnwardlv toward the axle f]. rocking the arm ll? and turning the earnl-lon the rocker hearing '12. causing the cam to exert an in-(1lIJlt-';tl pressure upon the superposed leaves oi the shrine with theresu t that the trietional resistance to relative longitudinal movementbetween the haves ot the spring is greatly increased. stitl'ening thespring and limiting; the llexure. l i lien on the rebound the tramemember l. n'ioves upwardly above its normal positioz'i, the arm 18 andcam l t are rocked in the opposite direction again causing the cam toexert a clamping; pres sure upon the leav s ot' the spring! to limit theupward tlexure oi the spring: Since the clip T "Formed of resilientmetal. the arms ti and 1D thereot will be sprung slightly apart when(Tie -ive prei snre exerted upon the cam H and this vieldin r ol. theclip prevents damage to the spring; and to the clampinp; devices sinceit limits the pressure applied by the cam to the spring and permits thearm 19- to have the uecesearv range at nioven'ient to accommodate themovements at? the 'l'raine member 1. wher the wheels of the vehicle aresubjected to exccssive impacts.

in lligr. t3 oi the drawing. tl e inventitni is shown applied to adillerent type of spring. the spring: in this case heinn a welllmowntype ot rear swing. in this case, the spring :20 is interposed betweiuia rear ash ill and a vehicle frame member 22. the frame member being:supported upon the central portion of the spring aud the opposite endsof the spring being}; connected to the axle. by suitable shackles 23.

'lhe clip and the clamping devices car ried thereby are identical withthe clip and clamping devices above described and the attz'aehn'ientshown in Fig. 6 dilters from that above described only in that theactuating arm extends from the clip to the axle in stead of TtlOll'l theclip to the supporting frame and in that a. sligl'itly ditlerentconnix-lion is provided between the axle and actuating arm. Its shown inFig. 6, the actuating arm 18 extends inwardly and downwardly from eachof the clips 7 and each of the two arms 18 is provided with an elongatedslot- .Z-l; adjacent its inner end, which receives the clanuping bolt.:25 ot a sectional collar :26 secured upon the axle 21. lipward or down"ard nlorenicnt of the frame member :t'roin its normal position willcause the arms ill nd the cams carried thereby to he rocked about theirpivots to apply clamping pressure to the leaves of the spring; and limitthe tlexure thereof.

in Fig. 1 ot the dra-wing g', the cam actuating arm is shown connectedto the vehicle tranie member whereas in Fig. (l, the cam actuating arnishown connected to the axle ot the vehicle. It will be obvious,theretore, that it is immaterial, so far as the present: illl'Gl'ltlOllis concerned, whether the cam actuating arm is attached to the framemember or to the axle, the same re sult being accomplished when theactuating arni connected to either of the relatively movable parts ofthe vehicle between which the spring is interposed.

In Figs. 7 and 8 oil? the drawing, there is illustrated a niodiliedltlllll o:l:' the invention in which a uniform clamping; pressure ismaintained upon the leaves of the spring to incraee the resistance tobending movement and to thereby stilt'en the spring. In this term ol theinvei'ition. a substantially U-shaped clip 27 of resilient metal, suchas spring; steel, is provided and this clip has an upper arm :38 whichoverlies the top lea't (lit the spring: and carries a grease cup Qt) torlubricating the spring and a lower arm 2:30, which overlies the springand carries a set screw 31 by means of which clamping pressure may b?:pplicd to the spring. The set screw ill may be tightened upon thespring until the springis held with the desired pressure and the setscrew may be held in adjusted position by means oi a lock nut which iscarried by the set screw below the arm 30 and is adapted to be screwedinto engnurement with the arm 30 to hold the set; screw against turning;movement. The attachment shown in Fie's. 7 and 8 is designedparticailarly tor a small automobile ot a veil-known make and is shownapplied to the trout spring- 33 of such an automobile Having thusdescribed my invention. what I claim is:

1. The combination with a spring formed, of superposed leaves which havea relative :til

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endwise movement upon fiexure of the spring, of a substantially U-shapedclip formed of resilient metal and having a base portion and a pair ofspaced. arms extending laterally from the base portion, said clip beingadapted to be placed on the spring with the base extending across oneside of the spring and the arms extending across the leaves at the topand bottom thereof, and means mounted on one of the arms for applying aclamping pressure to the superposed leaves of the spring.

2. The combination with a spring formed of superposed leaves which havea relative endwise movement upon flexure of the spring, of asubstantially U-shap-ed clip formed of resilient metal and having a baseportion and a pair of spaced arms extending laterally from the baseportion, said clip being adapted to be placed on the spring with thebase extending across one side of the spring and the arms extendingacross the leaves at the top and bottom thereof, and a set screw carriedby one of the arms for applying a clamping pressure to the superposedleaves of the spring.

' 3. The combination with a vehicle having frame and axle members and aninterposed leaf spring, of a snubber attachment comprising a clip ofresilient metal having spaced arms adapted to straddle plurality ofleaves of th spring, a movable pressure applying device interposedbetween one of said arms and the adjacent leaf of the spring and meansconnecting said device with one of said members for actuating saidpressure applying device upon a relative movement of said members.

4. The combination with a vehicle having frame and axle members and aninterposed leaf spring, of a snubber attachment com prising a clip ofresilient metal having spaced arms adapted to straddle a plurality ofleaves of the spring, a movable pressure applying device interposedbetween one of said arms and the adjacent leaf of the spring, and meansconnecting said device with one of said members for actuating saiddevice to apply pressure to superposed leaves of the spring uponrelative movement of said members in either direction from their normalposition. v r

5. The combination with a vehicle having frame and axle members and aninterposed leaf spring, of a snubber attachment comprising a clip havingspaced upper and lower arms adapted to receive a plurality of leaves ofthe spring between them, a cam mounted on one of the arms and interposedbetween said arm and the adjacent leaf of the spring, and an arm fixedto the cam and slidably connected to one of said members whereby saidcam is actuated to apply clamp ing pressure to the superposed leaves ofthe spring upon relative movement of said members.

6. The combination with a vehicle having frame and axle members and aninterposed leaf spring, of a snubber attachment comprising a clip havingspaced upper and lower arms adapted to receive a plurality of leaves ofthe spring between them, a cam mounted on one of the arms and interposedbetween said arm and the adjacent leaf of the spring, a set screwcarried by the other arm for clamping the superposed leaves of thespring against said cam, and an arm fixed to the cam and slidablyconnected to one of said members whereby said cam is actuated to applyclamping pressure to the superposed leaves of the spring upon relativemovement of said members.

7. Thecombination with a vehicle having frame and axle members and aninterposed leaf spring, of a snubber attachment comprising a clip havingspaced upper and lower arms adapted to receive a plurality of leaves ofthe spring between them, a cam mounted on one of the arms and interposedbetween said arm and the adjacent leaf of .r:

fitting in said recess and a base bearing against an outer leaf of thespring, and an arm fixed to said cam and connected to one of saidmembers.

8. The combination with a vehicle having frame and axle members and aninterposed leaf spring, of a snubber attachment comprising a clip havingspaced upper and lower arms adapted to receive a plurality of leaves ofthe spring between ther a cam mounted on one of the arms and interposedbetween said arm and the adjacent leaf of the spring, a bearing blockcarried by one of the arms on the inner side thereof and having aconcave bearing recess, a substantially triangular cam having a roundedapex fitting in said recess and a base bearing against an outer leaf ofthe spring, an arm fixed to said cam and connected to one of saidmembers, and a set screw carried by the other arm of the clip forclamping thesuperposed leaves of the spring against said cam.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

WVILLIAM BLAOKMORE.

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